Birthday Girl!

Tuesday was Elisa's 1st birthday! We took it easy throughout the day, opening presents every couple of hours. It seems like we sang "happy birthday" a couple of dozen times in English and Portuguese throughout the day too! By the time we were ready to have cake (after supper) Elisa wasn't interested in the least bit. She ended up eating some of it for breakfast on Wednesday. All in all, Tuesday was a good day.

We plan on having a birthday party for her on Saturday. The 1st birthday is a pretty big deal in Brazil, but we are just going to have a small party with 5 of her little friends. I will post an update on the party as soon as I can.

Elisa checking out her mountain of gifts...

Elisa and Daddy playing with the "Leap Frog" caterpillar her Grandparents gave her.

Elisa's birthday cake with surrounding cupcakes for the adults.

"Make a wish, Elisa!"

Elisa and Granddaddy play with her puppy.

Mommy and Elisa read a new book.

"See 'n Say"

It is hard to believe that Elisa will be one year old tomorrow! I can't figure out where all the time has gone. Her grandparents (Jennifer's parents) arrived this last Saturday to help celebrate her birthday with us.

Here is a video clip of Elisa playing with her new "See 'n Say". I don't think she knew whether to hit it or eat it! Pretty cute stuff...

Walking with Elisa: Live!

Check out this video clip of Elisa walking! We are all over the place! Good times!

She's a Walker!

The following is from an email that Jennifer sent our family last night:

Hi Family,
I just wanted to let you know about a major milestone in Elisa's little life. Tonight she officially started walking unsupported! We were at the birthday party of her little friend, Ana Luisa, and she would not let us pick her up - she just wanted us to walk all over creation with her while she held one of our fingers (one-handed). Then, right as we were leaving, I put her down on the floor because she was crying as I tried to say goodbye to everyone, and I let go of her hand. She just took off walking all over the place. Ana Luisa's dad (Alexandre) got out his video camera, and she just kept on walking all around the room. She can turn and everything. It was all very exciting for us and for all of Ana Luisa's family who stood around watching her accomplishment. Even the waiters at the birthday party stopped to watch. Hopefully Alexandre will give us a copy of the video he took and we can try to post it. We just wanted to share the excitement - 16 days before her first birthday!!
Love,
Jennifer

Family Picture: Winter 2007

Silly Little Girl!

Elisa is such a silly little girl! She has us laughing a good part of the time. Here are some of the cute things that she has done lately that we have caught on film.

Spreading avocado in her hair!

Realizing that avocado in the hair isn't a good idea.

Talking to her Grandparents' pictures.

Hiding in the laundry basket!

Kicking rocks with glee as she walks down a path.

Staying bundled on a cold day.

Worth a Thousand Words

As the saying goes "pictures are worth a thousand words". So, I will let the pictures do the talking. Enjoy!

Stinkin' Bet

The other night Jennifer and I were watching TV and she mentioned that she would still like to watch that Sandra Bullock movie, The Lakehouse, sometime. I reminded her that we already saw it and enjoyed it. But, she insisted that she hadn't seen it.

I thought, "How can she say that she has never seen this movie? I know that I have seen it. I would never seen a 'chick-flick' with another guy or by myself. What's the deal?"

We went back and forth arguing about rather or not Jennifer had in fact seen "The Lakehouse". Finally, I decided to go and rent it just to prove that I was right. Maybe if she saw a little bit of it she would start to remember. So I went to the local Blockbuster (yes, we have Blockbuster in Brazil) and rented the movie.

When I got home Jennifer coolly asked, "Do you want to make a bet?" I was extremely confident, so I agreed to bet. We bet that whoever was wrong would change all of Elisa's poopy diapers for one week. Folks, let me tell you something. This little girl is as adorable as they come, but she has unleashed the power of poo! She can really stink it up!!!

Well, sure enough Jennifer stuck to her guns and insisted that she hadn't seen the movie. I am now on full-time poopy duty. That didn't upset me as much as not remembering who I saw this movie with or when I saw it. I thought that I had gone with Jennifer to the theatre here in Porto Alegre. I couldn't imagine seeing it with anyone else. It really bothered me that I couldn't remember.

Later, the next day, I was telling this story to one of our friends and they asked if I saw it on an airplane. That was it! Jennifer fell asleep on the flight back to Brazil from the US in November and I couldn't sleep. The movie was showing and I ended up watching it. I could argue that she was there and just couldn't hang, but I'm a good sport. I'll change my daughter's diapers and I'll change them with glee!

What's in your mouth!?

The other day Jennifer was working on laundry downstairs. Elisa was with her just hanging out; crawling all over the place. At one point Jennifer looked over at Elisa to see her put something in her mouth. It looked like it was just a piece of string. Jennifer went over to take the "string" away from Elisa, but found that it was no "string" at all! It was actually a dead gecko! Gross!

We have geckos all over the house. It isn't uncommon to see one hanging on the wall or run across the floor. We view them as the "good guys" that eat the spiders that live with us too. To be honest, I knew that this particular dead gecko was there. I saw him on the stairs and pushed him down to the floor, thinking he was alive. When I saw that he was dead I thought, "I'm busy, I'll pick him up later." I know now that when I see something dead on the floor I should pick it up immediately and dispose of it, or Elisa will! Lesson learned.

Ethan Powell

I just can't imagine if something were to happen to Elisa. She brings me a Jennifer so much joy. It really breaks my heart to hear of other families that are hurting with loss or sickness.

I am sure that many of you have heard heart breaking stories of young children who are suffering from terminal diseases. Two-month old Ethan Powell is among them. He is suffering from Leukemia. He and his family need all the prayer and support they can get. Please go to www.ethanpowell.com to find out what you can do to help Ethan and his family.